Mechanical movement



April 28, 193 M. CARUSO MECHANI CAL MOVEMENT Filed March 4, 1927 INVENTOR A ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 2 8, 1931 UNITED STATES [PATENT- OFFICE ammo eanusoor IBVINGTON, NEW JERSEY, 'AssIeNoa'ro ran LIONEL oomeomnear, or NEW YORK, N. Y., a CORPORATION or NEW YORK MECHANICAL MOVEMENT The present invention relatesto mechanical movements and is more particularly directed toward mechanical movements suitable for producing a step by step rotary movement provide a mechanical movement wherein asolenoid coil acts on a freely movable plunger 20 to attract itwhen the coil is energized and ,move it along the axis of the coil, there being provided suitable fixed or stationary devices cooperative with the moving plunger for effecting an angular movement of the plunger 2 when the coil is energized, these devices permitting the plunger to return to its normal position when the coil is de-energized and causing it to assume a definite pre-determined angular position. Y

While the present invention will be de scribed more in detail as adapted for operating a-signal such as is useful for use in toy railroads, it will be understood that the mechanical movement may be used for oper- 85 ating various other devices.

The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the invention, one of the many possible forms in which the invention may be embodied, it being understood that the drawings are illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through an automatic signal tower for toy railroads, the outer parts being shown in section;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the base of the signal of Figure 1 showing the mechanical movement in sec- Lion;

Figure 3 is a view taken in the plane 3--3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction ofthe arrow; and

Figure L is an elevational View of the signal taken in the direction of arrow 4: of Figure 1.

As here shown, a toy railroad signal tower is provided with a base 10, in the form of a bottom supporting stamping 11 and a lower housing 12, a top or head 13 made out of suitable sheet metal stampings, and a supporting column 14 extending from the base to support the top 13 of the signal. -The base acts to house the operating mechanism for the signal, while the top or head 13 of the signal tower provides the windows and houses the lighting means for the signal.

A subframe 15 is suitably mounted in the base 10. As here shown, this subframe comprises a plurality of substantially vertical longitudinal members 16, a top cross plate 17, an intermediate cross plate 18 and a bottom cross plate 19, the subframe being fastened together and to the bottom stamping 11 by prongs bent over as indicated at 20. A solenoid coil :21 is mounted between the cross members 17 and 18. A magnetizable plunger 22 is axially guided inside the solenoid. It passes through apertures in the cross plates 17 and 18 and is guided for reciprocation in the tube 23 about which the solenoid coil is wound. A spring 24 acts on the lunger to hold it in the lower position an prevents sticking.

A stationary cam member 25 is, as here shown, mounted on thelower side of the intermediate cross member 18. This cam member, as here shown, has two points 25a and 25b and ascending cam surfaces 26. A pin 27 extends from the plunger 22 in a position to engage with the cam surfaces 26 on the sta tionary cam 25. A second stationary cam member 28 is fastened to the lower cross member 19. The latter cam member has a V-shaped notch 29 spaced below the points 25a and 25b of the stationary cam member \Vhen the coil 21 is energized, the plunger willbe moved upwardly against the spring 24 and the action of gravity. The pm 27 55 that the lamps 43 and 45 will be moved from 5 the'position indicated in dotted lines in Figwill en age with the cam surfaces 26 and will cause t e plunger to'turn angularly on its axis as it is raised. This turning is limited by the shape of the cam and, as is shown, the turning effect is substantially a semicircle. Of c'ourse, a different number of teeth could be used if a different angular movement were desired.

When the coil is de-energized the plunger drops under the influence of gravity and the spring 24 to the lower position. In dropping down, the pin 24 engages with the upper surface on the cam 28 and acts on the plunger to turn it sli htly so that the angular' position of the plunger is accurately pre-determined each time the magnet releases it. The upper end 30 of the plunger carries a sleeve 31 slotted as indicated at 32. A vertical shaft 33 is provided with a pin 34 and the parts are so arranged that the plunger may move vertically relative to the shaft 33. The pm of course will cause the parts to turn together.

The head or upper housing of the signal 13 is, as here shown, provided with a fixedly mounted member 35 which has a foot 36in which the upper end 37 of the shaft 33 is p1voted. A pin1on'38 on the upper end of the shaft above the foot 36 acts to support the shaft'33. A lamp supporting cage 39 is provided with a shaft 40 rotatably mountedin the stationary member 35. This cage includes a plate 41 provided with a number of holes 42 into which the teeth on the pinion 38 pass. A number of electric lamps are suitably mounted in this cage, as here indicated at 43, 44 and 45. The back plate 41 has a number of forwardly bent members 46 which support a front plate 47 provided with a number of apertures 48, 49 and 50 in front of the lamps 43, 44 and 45. A removable cover plate 51 is mounted on the front side of the housing 13. This'cover plate is, as here shown, provided with a number of apertures 52, 53 and 54 arranged as indicated and separated by an imperforate portion indicated at 55. Behind each of these apertures one may mount a transparency 56 of suitable color, if desired. I The current is supplied to the lamp by wiring arranged in any convenient manner, but omitted from the drawings for the sake of clearness. When the coil 21 is energized, the

v,shaft 33 will be turned a half revolution and -;this will result in turning the cage 39 a partial revolution. The parts are so proportioned ure 4 to bring these lamps opposite one of the pairs of transparencies. The next energization of the ma et will advance the lamps another step an in this fashion the lamps can be operated to indicate any signal desired or to produce light emerging from the center lamp 44 only. It will be understood that the arrangement of three lamps with pairs of semaphore openings is optional and that a single lamp and a single set of openings may be used. The apertured front plate 47 acts as a screen to prevent stray light from escap-v ing to the transparencies.

A form of mechanical movement suitable for operating a rotary switch is shown in my copending application, Number 156,561, filed December 23, 1926.

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in many forms and constructions, and I wish it to be understood that the particular form shown is but one of the many forms. Various modifications and changes being possible, I do not limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

WVhat is claimed is:

1. A mechanical movement comprising a rotatably mounted member, a solenoid coil, a reciprocable plunger normally held in one extreme position and axially movable to another extreme position upon energization of the coil, a slidable non-rotatable connection between the plunger and the rotatably mo unted member, and means to advance the plunger a plartial revolution upon energization of the CO1 2. A mechanical movement comprisin a rotatably mounted member, a solenoid coi a reciprocable plunger normally held in one extreme position and axially movable to another extreme position upon energization of the coil, a slidable non-rotatable connection between the plunger and the rotatably mounted member, a stationary cam member, and an arm carried by the plunger and cooperative with the stationary cam member for advancreciprocable plunger normally held in oneextreme position and axially movable to another extreme position upon energization of the coil, a slidable non-rotatable connection between the plunger and the rotatably mounted member, a stationary cam member, an arm carried by the plunger and cooperative with the stationary cam member for advancin the plunger a partial revolution upon energization of the coil, and a second stationary cam against which the arm engages when the p unger returns to its normal extreme osition, for predetermining the angular position of the plunger.

4. A mechanical movement comprising a stationary framework, a member mounted therein to rotate about a vertical axis, a solenoid coil, a plunger carried in the coil and connected to the rotatably mounted member the cam, the cam being so shaped that the X80 plunger is turned a partial revolution when the coil is energized.

5. A mechanical movement comprising a stationary frame-work, a member mounted therein to rotate about a vertical axis, a solenoid coil, a plunger carried in the coil and connected to the rotatably mounted member for longitudinal movement therealong and rotation therewith, a stationary cam surm rounding the plunger, an arm projecting from the plunger and engageable with the cam, the cam being so shaped that the plungor is turned a partial revolution when the coil is energized, and a stationary V-shaped cam into which the arm drops when the coil is de-energized.

6. A mechanical movement comprising a stationary subframe including longitudinal members, cross members at the ends of the 90 longitudinal members and an intermediate cross member, a solenoid coil mounted between two of the cross members, a plunger carried in the coil and mounted in the cross members forrotation about a vertical axis,

an arm on the plunger, and a stationary cam surrounding the plunger and having a lower surface engageable with the arm when the coil is energized for turning the plunger a partial revolution.

7. A mechanical movement comprising a stationary subframe including lon 'tudinal members, cross members at the en s of the longitudinal members and an intermediate cross member, a solenoid coil. mounted between two of the cross members, a plunger carried in the coil and mounted in the cross members for rotation about a vertical axis, an arm on the plunger, a stationary cam surrounding the plunger and having a lower sur- 4 face engageable with the. arm when the coil is energized for turning the plunger 9. partial revolution, a stationary V-shaped cam carried below the first cam and into which the arm drops when the coil is de-energized.

'45 8. A mechanical movement comprising a stationary subframe including lon itudinal members, cross members at the on s of the longitudinal members, and an intermediate cross member, a solenoid coil mounted bejlo tween the upper two cross members, a plunger carried in the coiland mounted in the cross members for rotation about a. vertical axis, an arm on the plunger, a stationary cam mounted below the intermediate cam memflli her and surrounding the plunger and having a lower surface engageable with the arm when the coil is energized for turning the plunger a partial revolution, a stationary V-shaped cam carried by the lower cross member and into which the arm drops when the coil is deenergized.

Signed at Irvington, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, this 25th day of February, 1927.

. B5 MARIO CARUSO. 

